Last modified: 14/07/2002

No 0 Crew Service Crew

Vauxhall Astra GTE16v Aron Brown Andrew Mitchell "The S.M.Roofing boys"

A Chief Marshal & Course Car Drivers view

After burning the midnight oil, on a few evenings prior to the event Andy and myself eventually finished fitting the tarmac suspension to the Astra, in readiness for our duties as course car on the forthcoming SM Roofing Stages. The usual hassle with disconnecting the steering arm ball joints, and the loss of the top mounting nuts, meant we had cause to use the words "damn" & "blast" along the way (or words to that effect!).

A shakedown test at Streetly Motor Club's annual Practice event at Curborough proved favorable, apart from the knackered Colway intermediates causing the car to under steer very badly.

It was hard to believe on the Saturday morning prior to the event, we were actually on our way to Streetly Motor Club's first event for - well I don't know how many years (probably before I was born!). We arrived at the venue in time for the meeting; the rest of the weekend was very hectic with one thing and another so I will try just to give you the highlights:

Saturday

• Aron & Andy try to fasten Chris's caravan awning in to the tarmac with nails, as this was to be used as the marshals signing on - the nails just bend!

• We move Chris's caravan on to the grass (why didn't we do this in the first place?!) and lay out the table and respective paperwork.

• Off load the Astra from the trailer in readiness for noise and scrutineering. 

• We take the Astra to noise - it fails at 108db

• Noise scrutineer then takes readings from various different positions and passes it at 99.5db (I thought the limit was 98db?)

• Scrutineering passed without any other problems - apart from the scrutineer commenting that we should have rear mud flaps fitted (on a front wheel drive car I enquire?!)

• Take Astra back and start to put up tents.

• Cal & Delecour borrow my 406 road car, to drive around the circuit - the clutch goes!

• Chris calls me to Rally HQ, "Can you take the Astra back to noise?", "why?" "Scrutineer didn't realise the limit was 98db", "B******S"!

• Astra then used as a test vehicle to try and get a the best reading to test the other cars, due to the strong wind sending all the reading's haywire.

• Get the Astra through at a reading of 97.9db!!

• Buy 4 brand new Colway Inters off Erik (I might as well have a monthly standing order going to Advanced Autosport Technologies Limited!) and get them fitted.

• A problem with stage mileage's arises, Aron, Erik & Alan spend the next 45 mins driving the circuit in the Passatt to double check.

• My 406 is towed away by the AA back to Birmingham

• Finish setting up camp and settle in for an evening of Beer and Sharon's splendid curry.

Sunday

• Sunday morning dawned early - damn early as Chris (Clerk of the Course) insisted on having a meeting at 5:30am!

• Duly take down our tents and pack them away.

• Pete Coley (Sector Marshal) phones, he has blown the engine on his Sierra 4x4 on the A14.

• Aron & Andy get set up in readiness to sign on the marshal's.

• George Cooke steps in as Sector Marshal

• A frantic 2 hours then passed with Aron signing on marshals and Andy handing out the Marshal packs & lunches.

• Marshal's briefing passes without any problems (despite my nerves!)

• The heavens open!

• Aron & Andy saddle up in readiness to drive the first stage as course car.

• Still raining hard we start SS1, a mile in and the wipers pack up! I frantically shake the arm up and down to try and get them to work again, Andy comments "I can't see a thing", "neither can I!" came the reply.

• Side windows come down so at least we can see something on the sideways moments.

• Approaching the long right hander after the runway an Ambulance is still reversing in to its space.

• Flat out in 5th down the back straight (was this a good idea with no wipers?). Trusting to Andy's map reading skills I see the chicane at the last second (Good these Carbon Fibre pads I thought!)

• Cal (Stage Commander) waits for us at the stage finish "everything OK?" "Yes - apart from no wipers and the ambulance still on the stage!"

• Stop to speak to Chris, his face is a picture - grinning like a Cheshire Cat!

• Back at service Ade's boys (event sponsors service crew) find the problem with the wipers - a blown fuse

• SS3 Wipers pack up again!

• Ade's boys find the problem again, the wiper motor is loose, and blowing the fuse.

• We are now soaked through to the skin!

• SS5 Big sideways moment through the complex

• Time for a coffee & burger

• SS7 move 2 of the chicanes on our way through (at Ade's (car no19) suggestion!) well that is my excuse and I am sticking to it!

• Astra now needs a new front bumper and my door pulling out

• Andy fires up the cooker and makes some cracking Bacon & Egg sarnies

• We have to red flag the last stage

• Have to borrow one of Ade's vans to tow the rally car back, as my 406 is now at Colliers in Erdington.

All in all, despite having 4 hours sleep on Saturday night, getting soaked through to the skin, the clutch going on the 406, the Astra needing a new bumper, new exhaust, and the door repairing, (but that is rallying!) I had one of the most enjoyable weekends ever, everyone got on well and despite the hard work and seriousness at times we still found time to have a laugh along the way. The £4000 we raised in aid of St Giles was the icing on the cake.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the marshal's, who stood out in the poring rain! Andy for his help on the car prior to the event, and as my "Deputy Chief Marshal". George for stepping as Sector Marshal. But mainly the rest of the rally committee for an experience I will never forget!

Streetly Motor Club's web site

S.M.Roofing Stages Rally web site